Step 1Start off with basic shapes to represent the flower's core. Make sure to sketch lightly with a pencil in the HB-2H range.

Step 2Sketch in a few lines that will serve as guidelines later on when defining the water lily's stamen.

Step 3Start sketching in the petals from the inside out.

Step 4Continue adding petals.

Step 5Add in the remaining petals.

Step 6Finish up the sketch.

Step 7Outline the water lily.

Step 8After outlining the water lily, shade in the background. A 2B pencil should suffice for this.

Step 9Lightly blend over the water lily using a cloth or blending stump. The aim here is to soften up the guidelines.

Step 10Start detailing from the center of the lily outwards. From here on out a 2H or H pencil should suffice.

Step 11Draw in the stamen. This is by far the hardest part of the drawing but once you have this done the rest of the drawing will be a piece of cake. Once the stamen are drawn in lightly outline the surrounding petals.

Step 12Still using an H or 2H pencil, shade in the petals. Make the shading as light and smooth as possible. Erase the highlights as needed.

Step 13Finish up the drawing by shading in the rest of the petals. Go ahead and rework the outline and background as well.